The 2009 warm weather garden

A warm weather garden is of course the most popular for most people, mainly because of the varieties of vegetables grown - especially tomatoes. I have to admit, it's my favorite as well, because there's nothing more satisfying than picking a ripe tomato from the garden, and eating it on the spot. But, there's also more pest control needed, so that means more work for EG. Since I handpick all pests, it takes an average of 3 hours per day to get them all, but there's always bees buzzing around the blooms every morning. That makes it worthwhile. Last year, we had so many bees, that they actually fought over the blooms! I can't wait for this planting....
Anyway, after much planning, here's the planting list for the warm weather garden.



1. Corn - 20 squares, Peaches and Cream, and also several more in an old garbage can.
2. Cucumbers - 4 squares of Boston Pickling, 4 squares of Cross Country Hybrid (both against trellises)
3. Pole Beans - 16 squares of Kentucky Wonder (against trellises, for the wife!)
4. Bell Pepper - 4 squares
5. Okra - 24 squares. This will be a mixture of Burgundy and Clemson spineless.
6. Zucchini - 2 hills, grown vertically
7. Yellow squash - 2 hills of straightneck, 2 hills of crookneck - grown vertically
8. Cowpeas - 36 squares, grown in the 4ft x 9 ft box.
9. Sweet Potatoes - 6 plants (after irish potatoes have matured)
10. Congo Watermelon - 2 hills, against trellis
11. Honeydew Melon - 1 hill cool green, 1 hill swan lake, against trellis
12. Cantaloupe - 2 hills, sierra gold, against trellis
13. Moon and Stars Watermelon - 2 hills, against trellis
14. Large Pumpkin - unknown variety, against trellis
15. Jack-o-lantern Pumpkin - 2 hills, against trellis
16. Jack-be-little Pumpkin - 1 hill, against trellis
17. Tomato - Cherokee Purple, 4 plants (grown in swc)
18. Tomato - Brandywine, red - 2 plants (grown in swc)
19. Tomato - Mortgage Lifter, 2 plants (grown in swc)
20. Tomato - roma, 2 plants (grown in swc)
21. Tomato - Opalka, 2 plants (grown in swc)
22. Tomato - jelly bean, 1 plant, (grown in 5 gallon swp)
23. Pepper - Jalapeno, 2 plants, (grown in cat litter bucket swp's)
24. Marigolds - 12, spaced strategically throughout the garden.



And, here's my drawing of the planting. Click on the picture to enlarge.





It's alot of stuff, but should be the best garden we've ever had. Surely, we will have enough to freeze/can for later use. There's nothing like eating homegrown veggies in the winter! Anyway, the tomatoes will be planted after Good Friday, which is on the 10th of April. Everything else has been started in cell packs, and will be planted between May 1-15, as the cole varieties should have already matured by that time. The squash will be grown vertically, by using tomato cages turned upside down. I hope it works....Wish me luck!
Take care, and happy gardening!

EG